Leeka Kheifets, Ph.D., study leader and a professor of epidemiology at UCLA's School of Public Health, along with her team of researchers, have found a possible relationship between a mother's cell phone use while pregnant and behavioral problems in the child later on.

"There are theories, but we do not know," said Kheifets. "Exposure to the fetus is likely to be very low, so it's unclear how it can influence fetal development."

To find this possible correlation, Kheifets and her team of researchers analyzed the data on mothers who participated in the Danish National Birth Cohort study, which asked them lifestyle questions including amount of cell phone use during and after pregnancy. They also studied data on cell phone use from these mothers' children, which amounted to 28,745 7-year-olds.

The mother's were interviewed when their children turned seven, where they were asked about the child's cell phone use and behavioral problems. According to the study's overall results, 18 percent of children were exposed to cell phone use before and after pregnancy. Now, 35.2 percent of 7-year-olds used a cell phone, but less than one percent of them used a cell phone for more than one hour a week. Based on what their mother's said, 93 percent of the children had no behavioral issues while 3.1 percent showed signs of hyperactivity/inattention, relationship problems and conduct problems.

The next step, according to Kheifets, is to conduct this study again when the children are 11 years old. Kheifets would like to see if these percentages remain stable over the years, or if they take a drastic turn one way or the other.

"Be aware of your exposure and while the science develops, use precaution," said Kheifets. "It is very easy to reduce exposure by keeping your phone away from the body and using a hands-free device, so why not do it?"

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